What Democrats and Republicans fear most about each other: CNBC survey has the answers
The economy is still a key issue in the 2026 election, but voters are concerned about Trump testing the bounds of the office and Democratic Socialist polices.
Key points
- A CNBC All-America Economic Survey found Republicans fear socialist policies and higher taxes if Democrats win Congress, while Democrats fear unchecked presidential power if Republicans keep control.
- The poll of 1,000 registered voters, conducted Oct. 14 to 18, showed 44% of all voters worry Trump would operate beyond his constitutional power.
- Affordability ranked highly across the political spectrum when respondents named the most important issues facing the country.
A new CNBC All-America Economic Survey finds that each side of the political divide has distinct fears about the other ahead of the midterm election. Republicans in the poll said a Democratic Congress would move too far left and enact socialist policies, while Democrats said Republican control would leave President Donald Trump with unchecked power.
The survey was conducted between Oct. 14 and 18 and included 1,000 registered voters. Respondents could pick up to two concerns about what would happen if either party controlled Congress, and those answers do not necessarily reflect their top electoral priorities.
What each side fears
Forty-four percent of all voters said they fear Trump would be allowed to operate beyond his constitutional power, including 74% of Democrats and 45% of independents. Twenty-eight percent said they are concerned about the implementation of Democratic Socialists of America policies, including 54% of Republicans and 22% of independents.
Republicans also cited higher taxes and weakened border security under Democratic control. Democrats named continued Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportations and ongoing military efforts in Iran as worries under Republican control.
That totally shows the polarization … and the fear that one side is going to completely undo the agenda of the other
— Ron Bonjean
Strategists on the polarization
Republican strategist Ron Bonjean said the results show deep polarization and fear that one side will undo the other's agenda. He said Republicans worry Democrats would return to the approach of the Biden administration.
Lucas Holtz of the center-left think tank Third Way warned Democrats not to misread any mandate if they hope to keep gains with Latino and working-class voters. Bonjean said voters want change but do not want a return to Democratic control of Washington.
Prices remain a concern
If Democrats win Congress, 22% of all voters said they are concerned about them failing to bring down prices, including 31% of Democrats, 22% of independents and 15% of Republicans. If Republicans keep the House and Senate, 24% of voters said they worry whether prices will come down, including 32% of Republicans, 22% of independents and 17% of Democrats.
